Gas gift cards

Compare Gift Cards » Gas Gift Cards

Gift cards have become a staple of the holiday season. There are wide range of choices to suit your interests, including cards from airlines, grocery stores, restaurants and more. If you don't want all that plastic, you'll find a wide selection of digital gift cards, and a growing number of smartphone apps will help you keep track of them all.

Before you get one, make sure to read the fine print. Not all gift cards are the same. They vary widely in expiration dates, the amount of fees they charge, whether they can be replaced if stolen, and whether they're reloadable.

To help you decide, Bankrate.com has surveyed 63 gift cards and compared a variety of features. The survey included general purpose "open-loop" gift cards and store-branded "closed-loop" cards. Bankrate.com gathered data on a variety of topics, from expiration dates and fees to e-gift card availability and free shipping.

To view the other card categories, click on the tabs.

• Money loading limits
• Expiration date?
• Dormancy or maintenance fees?
• Card and/or funds replaced after loss/theft?

• PIN?*
• Reloadable?
• E-card available?
• Online balance check?

• Free shipping/delivery?**
• Purchase fees?
• Other details

Note: The black dot indicates the answer is yes or the feature is available.

Gas gift cards
Chevron/Texaco	$5-$100 available online; $5-$500 available via phone			•		•		•		•	Chevron/Texaco The card is reloadable at gas stations but not online. There is a 3.75 percent processing fee when the card is ordered online. There's no processing fee if the card is purchased at gas stations.
Citgo	$5-$300					•					Citgo The card can only be purchased in the store.
Exxon	$25, $50, $100			•				•		•	Exxon Replacement is possible minus a 15 percent fee for devaluation of the card and processing the new card. There is a 3.75 percent processing (purchase) fee when the card is ordered online. There's no processing fee if the card is purchased at gas stations.
Shell	$5-$100 available online; $5-$500 available via phone							•		•	Shell There is a 3.5 percent handling (purchase) fee when cards are ordered online. There are no fees if purchased at gas stations. Replacement fees may apply.

*PIN defined as a cardholder-created security code needed to conduct a transaction involving a card, whether it's checking a balance, making a purchase or something else. It does not include PINs that are found on the back of a card.

**Free shipping/delivery is only for physical cards. Being able to send an e-card for free doesn't qualify.

Source: Survey conducted by Bankrate.com from late September through early October 2012.